Bank of England

The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom, established on 27 July 1694 to act as the English government's banker. The bank was owned by private stockholders until 1946, when UK Labor Party Prime Minister Clement Attlee nationalized the bank. The bank monopolizes bank notes in England and Wales and is one of eight banks authorized to issue banknotes in the UK. The bank itself is located on Threadneedle Street, and it was nicknamed "the Old Lady".